A/N: I'm setting the stage… This is all primarily GSR. The action is coming, but I indulged in some fluff first. If you don't like GSR you won't like this chapter, but I promise you the next chapter will be old fashion case files, and drama.
As always thanks to Aus for the beta read.
Chapter 2
Sara felt the bed shift as Grissom leaned over her to turn off the alarm clock. Opening one eye she noted the time. "Grissom, 9 a.m. We don't have to be to work for another twelve hours," she grumbled pulling her covers up.
Without a word, he kissed her cheek, rolled out of bed and walked out of the room.
Hearing the coffee grinder start up, Sara mentally walked through his routine. After finely grinding the beans, he would take out the filtered water…this he did for her.
He emptied the coffee into the cone filter, careful not to make a mess, hit the brew button, and ripped off a sheet of paper towel to clean out the grinder in the sink.
He would then move to open the door, grab the newspaper, take the rubber band off, and place it flat on the table.
He took out two cups from the cupboard, placed them next to the paper, and headed down the hall to the bathroom.
He would take out two towels from the bathroom pantry, place them on the counter, relieve himself, wash his hands, splash water on his face, and move to the kitchen to wait for her.
Taking a detour, Grissom swung into the bedroom and crawled back under the covers.
Sara was immediately awake. "Grissom! Your feet are freezing," she complained, trying to move out of their reach.
He chuckled, pulling her tightly against him so she couldn't get away.
"Why are you back in bed? You're supposed to be waiting for me in the kitchen," she complained, twisting onto her back.
Propping himself up on his elbow, he smoothed her hair back. "Well, you've been gone for three weeks. My other girlfriend didn't mind," he joked lightly.
Raising an eyebrow she smirked, "Well your other girlfriend needs to know I don't share."
"Deal," he whispered, and kissed her deeply, running his hand down her side.
Breaking away she smiled, "A morning kiss before we've brushed our teeth? You must have really missed me."
A beep echoed from the kitchen.
"Coffee's done," he announced and pulled her from her nest of blankets.
---/---
"Sara have you seen my shoes?" Grissom called from the walk-in closet.
Buttoning her shirt she glanced around the bedroom. "What's the matter? Your other girlfriend not a very good housekeeper?" she asked picking up the misplaced accessory. Moving past each other, she placed the oxfords in his hands, and entered the closet while he buttoned his shirt.
"What time are you leaving?" Sara called out tying her shoes.
Grissom glanced at his watch, "I'll leave in five minutes. That way you can leave before 8:00."
Re-entering the bedroom, she slipped behind him, and wrapped her arms around him. "You know for a group of people who are supposed to be investigators, you would think they would have it figured out by now," she commented.
Turing to hug her fully, kissed her forehead, and released her. "What's the matter? Sick of the cloak and dagger?"
She laughed, "No that part's exciting. Filling up two vehicles with the gas prices the way they are is annoying." She followed him out into the living room.
"If all you wanted to do was car pool, you could have let me know," he explained.
Elbowing him in the side, she offered a fake laugh, "But then who would we have all the sex with?"
Opening the door he smiled, "You've clearly never been car pooling buddies with me."
Watching the door close, she tried her best not to glow. They did after all have a front to put up.
---/---
Greg hit the button in frustration.
"Watch it Greg, that unit cost ten grand," Sara warned looking at the electronic nose. Pressing two buttons rapidly she smiled sweetly as it beeped happily.
Greg returned her smile with a tense one, "Thanks. I thought I broke it." Glancing over the readout he couldn't help but be interested in what perfume Sara wore. He was surprised to find traces of polo aftershave in the mix. His interest was peaked, but before he could comment Grissom walked past him with assignment slips.
"Welcome back Sara. I take it you survived the training course with little injury?" Grissom asked her as he poured her a cup of coffee.
"Some minor bumps and bruises, but it was worth it," she answered.
Nick, Warrick and Catherine took the moment to enter in a wave of noise.
"The man is crazy!" Warrick exclaimed.
"I swear to you that's what he said!" Nick replied, clearly trying to defend himself.
"Before or after you frisked him?" Catherine asked suggestively.
Grissom cleared his throat, "I hope it was a suspect you were frisking Nick?"
The younger CSI's face reddened suddenly and he sat even faster.
"Who's still working an open investigation?" Grissom finally asked.
Greg held up the equipment, waving it toward his boss, "I have that assault at the gym." The device beeped loudly.
Looking over his glasses, Gil chose not to lecture his newest CSI, "Warrick, you know how to operate that thing. Work with Greg before he has to sell his car to pay the department back."
Nick chuckled, "Where would he get the other $9,700. Have you seen his car?"
Greg pretended to laugh and glanced at the screen. Polo aftershave, freesia, scope. Knowing the combination looked familiar, he scrolled up to the last reading. Freesia, scope, polo aftershave. Glancing around the room, he was at a loss as to what he should do with the information. He looked from Sara to Grissom, and back to Sara again.
"You ok Greggo? You didn't actually break it did you?" she asked standing up.
"No!" he shouted trying to clear the screen before anyone saw. "No, I just ah…I knew Warrick was working on the B&E, and was going to ask you to help," he said to Sara.
Grissom looked skeptical, but nodded his agreement. Handing out the last of his slips, he left the break room, and waited patiently for the shift to be over.
---/---
Sara swung by Grissom's office. "Hey I'm heading out," she announced.
Glancing up he smiled at her, "Everything go alright at the gym?"
A strange look crossed her face, "Sure. We pulled the suspect in. He confessed. End of story."
He could tell there was more to the story, but chose not to call her on it. It was something she would most likely tell him at home. "Ok, I think I'll be heading out myself here in about ten minutes."
She offered him a quick wink, and turned toward the exit.
He watched her walk away, but his view was suddenly blocked by Greg. Refocusing he looked at the man in the doorway. "Yes Greg?"
Greg looked back toward Sara, and then again at his boss, "We ah, we finished the case."
"I know, she just told me," he replied slowly wondering why the younger CSI looked like the cat that ate the canary. "Was there something you needed?"
He shook his head, "Um, no I guess not. It's good to have Sara back?"
"Considering that some of my CSIs like to stand in doorways wasting time? Yes it's nice to have Sara back," he answered sternly.
Taking the hint, Greg turned, and walked toward the locker room.
---/---
Sara heard his keys in the lock while she put the finishing touches on the table setting. "What took you so long? I thought you were only ten minutes behind me?"
He held up a plastic bag, "I made a pit stop."
Glance at the bag, and then at his face, she began beaming. "Ben and Jerry's Half Baked?" she asked clearly excited.
"Yes ma'am," he answered and moved to put the containers in the freezer.
Snatching one out of his hand she grabbed a spoon from the dishwasher. "The spinach lasagna we put together yesterday should be done in about ten minutes," she informed him, digging into the ice cream.
Picking out a red wine, Grissom opened it, and poured two glasses, "Wine, ice cream and lasagna at 9 a.m. I wonder why people think the night shift is strange."
She followed him into the living room and they both sat on the couch, "I always thought Greg gave us the bad name."
Turning in the TV he nodded, "He was stranger than usual today."
"You noticed that too?" she asked. "He kept asking weird questions…like he was fishing for something."
Shrugging it off, they both chalked it up to his eccentricities. "So. Tell me about your training?" he asked flipping through channels.
Sara filled him in on the basics. They covered forest survival, rock/mountain climbing rescue, and disaster recovery. "The only injury the class had was Sarge. He broke two ribs."
"How'd he do that, rock climbing?" he asked getting up to check the lasagna.
Shaking her head, she poured them each some more wine. "No. O'Donnell from PD actually. He got a little carried away playing crud."
"Crud?" he asked pulling out their dinner, and set it on the table.
"Sarge is retired Air Force. Pilot's play it, and it gets pretty violent," she explained.
They both settled into their chairs, content. They had only been officially together for a few months, but they each felt like it had been a lifetime. Like everything they had experienced up to that point was orchestrated to get them to exactly where they were. Together, in love, and happy.
---/---
Grissom turned the page of his report, pillows propping himself up against the head board. Unconsciously, he listened to Sara's movements, tracing her steps. She would pull her hair back, wash her face, and reach blindly for the towel he left out for her.
Sara hung the towel up, and grabbed her toothbrush from the holder.
She would floss, take off her jewelry and place them neatly in the jewelry box he had bought for her.
She walked to the living room, watered her ivy, and turned off all the lights.
She would pick up his shoes and his jacket and place them in their closet.
Sara removed her jeans, put on some wind pants and a tank top, and crawled in bed.
Grissom smiled wickedly and flung his report to the ground. "Your feet are cold," he commented rolling on top of her.
TBC…